Imtiaz Ali on 20 years in film: 'Jab We Met, Rockstar, Highway—each film was a leap of faith'

With a career spanning twenty years and critically acclaimed films like Jab We Met (2007) and Love Aaj Kal (2009), Imtiaz Ali has had an extraordinary journey. 

Imtiaz Ali's fulfilling career in cinema

He told HT City that his 20-year career in filmmaking, which started with his directorial debut Socha Na Tha (2005), has been a fulfilling journey. Ali never imagined he would be here, engaged in such intriguing work—and making a living doing it! The kindness and generosity of complete strangers in this field have made him feel like the luckiest person alive.

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Amar Singh Chamkila, his highly praised and popular 2024 release, brought him full circle in his career. Along with the recent theatrical re-runs of Jab We Met and Rockstar (2011), his 2014 feature Highway is being re-released this week, adding to his excitement.

Alia Bhatt's casting in Highway

In regards to Highway, which features Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda, Ali said that at first, he thought of getting someone with more experience and age. However, Alia had an unusual level of emotional maturity for someone her age when they first met. She brought the necessary depth to the character, and the contrast in casting was captivating.

At the time, it was a bold move to make a film that dealt with heavy topics like Stockholm Syndrome. Imtiaz said when questioned about any reservations or resistance he encountered that everyone was very encouraging. Ranbir Kapoor encouraged him to do Highway first, since there was time in between, even though he was already committed to making Tamasha (2015). Highway producer Sajid Nadiadwala was as upbeat. Despite being somewhat unique, the story captivated everyone. In order to be a little more daring, Ali understood he had to keep the costs down.

Where to watch Highway

Meanwhile, Highway is available to stream on Prime Video and ShemarooMe (OTTplay Premium). 

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